Let’s Pretend

I am a huge fan of role-playing games. I love everything about them, from playing them to running them, investigating how they work and the kinds of play that they can produce. I have a side project as a role-playing game publisher, although my ambitions to date have been quite modest.

Anyway! One of the things I like most about them is the opportunity they give people to pretend to be someone else. You’re no longer a mild-mannered skills trainer, you’re a warrior-wizard with strange powers and a thirst for revenge! For a few hours you can step back from the real world and be someone else, somewhere else.

An element of role-playing could be really useful before the viva too. A mock viva is a kind of role-play, but there are other opportunities.

Imagine you’re an examiner. How do you read a thesis? What questions would come to mind?

Imagine you’re your supervisor. What advice would help a researcher? What could you do to help?

Imagine you’re one of your friends. Do you know what a viva is? What questions do you have for your friend? How can you help?

Imagine you’re you in the viva. How is it going? How are you feeling?

Imagine you’ve succeeded. How did you do it? What helped you pass the viva?

Some people act when they role-play; others just think and imagine. Try it out for yourself. Reflect on what questions or ideas come up, and see how they can help you be ready for the viva.